Teague Jones (abt. 1620 - bef. 1702)

Born about 1620 in England

Descendants

Died before 1702 before about age 82 in Barnstable, Massachusetts

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Biography

Origins

Teague Jones was born about 1620-24 probably in England.

Some online trees claim that he was the son of Mayflower shipmaster Christopher Jones, but no reliable sources support such a claim.

He may have been born in Ireland, given his first name, but that is not known with any certainty. Teague or Teige is Irish for Thaddeus or Timothy, and despite the way it is sometimes ridicules by people who don't know any better, it is a perfectly 'respectable' Christian name and for ages past it has been borne by members of Irish families of the highest standing in their own country. According to all the Irish glossaries, it signifies a poet. In New England in the seventeenth century there must have been many "Irish Teagues".

Emigration

Teague Jones is not in the list of those able to bear arms in 1643, ages 16 to 60, which shows that he had probably not yet arrived in the Colony unless he was under sixteen. There is no record by what ship he arrived or whence he came or with whom.

He first appears in the Massachusetts records in 1645. (See Court Records, below.)

Some online trees claim, without source, that he arrived in the 1630s on the Confidence.

Wife

While he appears in many records, there are no records that specifically name a wife. If he did marry, he is estimated to have married about 1650.

Some online trees, again without source, claim that he married a Native woman and some give her the name Rahama and even claim she was daughter of a specific Sachem. There is no reliable documentation to support these claims.

Children

Similarly, there is no record that directly names children of Teague Jones, but the following have been associated with him as his children:

1. Jeremiah Jones born before 1650 in Of Yarmouth, Barnstable, MA
2. Ruhamah Jones born about 1650 in Of Yarmouth, Barnstable, MA
3. Josiah Jones born about 1661, Yarmouth, Barnstable, MA
4. Elizabeth Jones b. Yarmouth, Barnstable, MA
5. Samuel Jones

By 1673 we find mention of Jeremiah Jones and soon after of Samuel and Josiah,^{[citation needed]} who seem of the right age to have been his sons, and that was the opinion of Savage (1860) and of Frederick Freeman (1858, as gleaned from his Annals of Yarmouth). No record has been found to show that they were brothers, and probably there is now no possibility of finding such a record. Hence we can say only that Teague Jones was probably their father.

By deed dated May 29, 1691, he conveyed his farm on the west side of Bass river, where he lived before coming to Monomoit, to his son Jeremiah, who was then occupying it. Josiah Jones, doubtless his son, and Joseph Eldredge, son of Robert, then owned farms adjoining.^[1][2][3]

Savage seems to imply that there may have been a Teague Jr., but none of the records mentions a junior and the continuity and aspects of the records seem to indicate that there was but one Teague Jones.

Death

He died between 21 Jul 1683 and 1702 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts.^[4]

No burial location, death record or settlement of his estate have been found.

Religion

The early Joneses of Yarmouth were mostly Quakers. Earliest records find show the Yarmouth Friends' monthly meetings were held alternating at the homes of John Dillingham and Teague Jones beginning in 1681.^{[citation needed]}

Appearance in Court & Land Records

Teague Jones is mentioned several times in Plymouth Colony Court Records, showing he often came under the discipline of the authorities, but he is never mentioned as taking any part in the affairs of the town.^[5]

Teague Jones is first mentioned in Plymouth Colony Records among five men from Yarmouth, sent out by the town as its quota for the expedition against the Narragansett Indians:

On 14 August 1645 there appears a record of "soldiers sent out against the Narragansetts in the late expedition: ... from Yarmouth were William Northcoate, William Twining, Teague Jones, Henry Wheldon, and William Chase, fourteen days. There were delivered to each soldier, on going forth, one pound of powder, three pounds of bullets, and one pound of tobacco. They set out on August 23rd and advanced to Rehoboth but returned September 2nd without seeing any action and were discharged. "It was ordered by the court, that each sachem shall hereafter keep within his own bounds." (unknown context)^[6][7]

1645: "Teague Jones a Freeman of Yarmouth, MA is fined to take allegiance to the British Crown."^{[citation needed]}

Nancy Thatcher Reid writes that Teague was called to court from time to time for misdemeanors, most of which involved nothing more than a certain air of "joie de vivre," which the sober orthodox residents of the town deplored or maybe envied. "Not altogether a desirable citizen, disputatious & fond of strong drink. His wife may have been an Indian."^[8]

On July 7, 1646, a suit between Teague Jones and Ralph [sic] Whelden and the latter's daughter was adjourned. ^[9]

NOTE: This is the ONLY record for a Ralph' Whelden in the colonial records; researchers believe this was a typo for either Gabriel or one of his sons.

On Oct. 29, 1649, Richard Berry accused Teague Jones of Yarmouth, of the crime of sodomy of committing sodomy and other unclean practices with Sarah, wife of Hugh Norman and Jones was put under heavy bonds for his appearance at the March term of the Court to answer.^{[citation needed]}

On 6 March 1650 Berry acknowledged before the General Court that he had given false witness under oath and he was sentenced to be whipped at the post. His fondness for strong drink, also, caused him trouble with the authorities. At that Court Berry confessed that he had borne false witness against Jones, and for his perjury was whipped at the post in Plymouth. . . Richard, notwithstanding his humiliating confession that he had sworn falsely, and his visit to the whipping-post, continued to live on excellent terms with his friend Teague at Doctor's Weir, near the mouth of Bass River. The court, however, thought differently, and caused them "to part their uncivil living together".^[10]

At a General Court held at Plymouth on October 29, 1649, "Teag Joanes complaineth against Edward Sturges in an action for slander to the dammag of an hundred pound," and a verdict was rendered for the defendant.^[11]

Teague Jones and Richard Berry were ordered to part their uncivil living together in 1653.^[10]

Teague and Richard were also found playing cards on the Sabbath.^{[citation needed]}

In 1655 he had dispute with Indian Mashantampaine about a gun, which the court ordered returned to the Indian,^[12] At a General Court on October 4, 1655, "Teage Jones accused Masshantampaine to haven stolen a gun from him,' but the jury decided in favor of the Indian."^[13]

At the October session of the Court in 1660, he was fined £6. "for refusing to take the oath of fidelitie" but the fine was "abated"; ^[14]

On 3 Oct 1662, Teague "overtaken with drink, having formerly been a transgressor in that kind, was fined fifty shillings."^[15] An inventory of spirits in Yarmouth in June and July 1662 showed six people brought 113 gallons. Teague was shown as one of many buying 10 gallons of alcohol, "one case forfeit to the country."

In 1667 Teague was living in the South part of Yarmouth, on west side of Bass River, near Stage Island.^[16]

On June 15, 1667, "Teag Jones was returned by the Selectmen of the Town of Yarmouth for not coming to meeting."^[17] It was not specified whether this referred to the civil Town Meeting or to the meetings for worship.

He was living in 1667, or about that time, in the south part of Yarmouth in a house on the west side of Bass River, near Stage Island, where he had a farm. ^{[citation needed]}

In 1668, Teague purchased five additional acres. ^{[citation needed]} He sold the Chatham land before 1686 to Elisha Hedge^{[citation needed]} and returned to Yarmouth, where he lived as late as 1691.^{[citation needed]}

By deed dated February 14, 1673-4, he bought of William Nickerson, Sen., a farm at Monomoit, bounded north by the White Pond and the land of John Nickerson and east by "the highway that leads into the Inlands".^{[citation needed]} It was in a locality which the Indians called Ockpeset or Ockepset. By the same deedk, he obtained six acres of upland at the Oyster Pond furlong, two acres of meadow at the end to the Oyster pond, two acres more on the south side of the Oyster Pond and thirty acres of meadow at Gregory's Neck, being the neck at the east side of Taylor's pond, South Chatham.

By deed dated December 27, 1675, he added to the above farm a tract of five acres on the east side of it, lying between a pond and the highway and bounding east on land of Edward Cottle.^{[citation needed]} This lot as evidently in the vicinity of the Kendrick and Flynn houses, West Chatham.

He was taxed toward King Philips War in 1676. This was the first time he appeared on Yarmouth tax rolls. A "rate" made this year 29 Apr 1676 towards the charge of the late war shows both the tax-paying inhabitants at this date and their comparative wealth, and among them we find: Teague Jones - 2s, 4d and 1s, 4d.: Samuel Jones - 12s, 5d: Jeremiah Jones - 2s, 14d.^[18]

The inventory of James Claghorn dated 21 July 1683 has an item, 'what is due from Teague Jones to the estate - 1 pound'.^[1]. This is the last date we find Teague mentioned. No record of his death has been found and no probate of an estate, yet he owned property as indicated in the above rate and we find mention of 'Teague Jones' marsh' in the inventory of Benjamin Parker's estate. Since we are practically without early land records of Yarmouth, we cannot trace this property no learn whether grants were made to Teague or his sons or whether they purchased what they had. In lieu of a well, Teague may have deeded his property to his sons, and this seems to be the case since we find no administration or inventory of his estate. We can only state that he was living as late as 21 July 1683, and this date would indicate that he was a young man when first he appeared in the Colony (1645), possibly born as early as 1620.

The inventory of Joseph Eldredge (5 Barn. Prob. Rec. 266) contains land in Yarmouth, which he owned as early as 1691, when Teague Jones conveyed land there to his son, Jeremiah Jones, bounded by the land of Joseph Eldredge and Josiah Jones (Files No. 9938). Joseph Eldredge's son Jeremiah may well have been named for Jeremiah Jones, who was probably his uncle.

By deed dated 29 May 1691, he conveyed farm on west side of Bass River to supposed son Jeremiah, who was living there.^[19] Josiah Jones, doubtless another son, and Joseph Eldredge, son of Robert, then lived on adjoining farms.^{[citation needed]}

Sargeant Joseph Eldredge, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Nickerson) Eldredge, perhaps married first a daughter of Teague Jones, a neighbor at Monomoit from 1675 to 1683. He acquired land and probably lived for a time in the south part of Yarmouth on the western side of Bass river. His land adjoined land of Teague Jones and his sons, and the circumstances indicate that it was a family community. A deed from Teague Jones to his son Jeremiah, dated May 29, 1691, conveying land on the west side of Bass River, Yarmouth.^[20]

"Michael Stewart . . by deed dated October 12, 1702, he bought of the then proprietors of Monomoit . . a large irregular tract at what is now West Chatham, on both sides of the highway, lying between the ponds there and Regged Neck and extending from the present Doane neighborhood westerly to the present George Buck neighborhood. [This tract is described as follows: . . . ranging Northerly by ye reputed lands of Teague Jones deceased X X . . ."^[4]

Research Notes

Serg. Joseph Eldredge, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Nickerson) Eldredge, perhaps married first a daughter of Teague Jones, a neighbor at Monomoit from 1675 to 1683. He acquired land and probably lived for a time in the south part of Yarmouth on the western side of Bass river. His land adjoined land of Teague Jones and his sons, and the circumstances indicate that it was a family community. See a deed from Teague Jones to his son Jeremiah, dated May 29, 1691, conveying land on the west side of Bass river^[21]

The inventory of Joseph Eldredge contains land in Yarmouth, which he owned as early as 1691, when Teague Jones conveyed land there to his son, Jeremiah Jones, bounded by the land of Joseph Eldredge and Josiah Jones. Joseph Eldredge's son Jeremiah may well have been named for Jeremiah Jones, who was probably his uncle.^[22]

The inventory of James Claghorn, dated 21 July 1683 has an item, "what is due from Teague Jones to the estate - 1 pound".^[23]

We find mention of "Teague Jones' marsh" in the inventory of Benjamin Parker's estate.^{[citation needed]} Since we are practically without early land records of Yarmouth, we cannot trace this property to learn whether grants were made to Teague or his sons or whether they purchased what they had. In lieu of a will, Teague may have deeded his property to his sons, and this seems to be the case since we find no administration or inventory of his estate. We can only state that he was living as late as 21 July 1683, and this date would indicate that he was a young man when first he appeared in the Colony (1645), possibly born as early as 1620.

Freeman in his "Annals of Yarmouth" states that "Yarmouth records prior to 1677 are lost and we have only imperfect materials for the early history of this town." We are further handicapped by the lack of land records because fire destroyed Barnstable County Court House Oct. 22, 1827 and 93 of the 94 volumes of deeds were lost. The Registry now has 32 volumes which contain records of deeds which were brought in after the fire and again recorded, but thousands including those prior to 1800 were not recorded."^[24]

I descend through Teague’s son Jeremiah and his first wife Sarah Dillingham. I also descend from Richard Berry, whom I wrote about here.^[25]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories, vol 4, pt. 2, p 48
2. ↑ Smith's History of Chatham; H. L. Luce Papers; Freeman's Cape Cod; Conn. Quarterly page 359 [1897]; Plymouth Colony Records 2:91; 3:37, 200; 4:29, 103; 5:254; 3:89, 90
3. ↑ Library of Cape Cod History, #36 (FHL Film 1,004,003)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Old Barnstable Deeds, Book 4, Folio 86
5. ↑ Annals of Yarmouth, p. 194
6. ↑ The History of Cape Cod: Annals of Thirteen Towns of Barnstable County, Volume 1, Page 176
7. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 2, p. 91
8. ↑ "Chart George Eldridge's" genealogy. MORE CITATION DETAILS SOUGHT.
9. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records, Volume 2, Page 104."
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Plymouth Colony Records, Volume 3, Page 37
11. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 7, p. 46.
12. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records, Volume 3, Pages 80 thru 90
13. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 3, pp. 88 and 200.
14. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 8, p. 103.
15. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records, Vol.4, p. 29.
16. ↑ weitzenkorn.com BETTER SOURCE SOUGHT
17. ↑ Plymouth Colony records, Volume 4, page 153
18. ↑ County, Vol.2, p. 194, Boston, 1869.
19. ↑ Superior Court of Judicature, No. 9, 838; (Files No. 9938)
20. ↑ Superior Court of Judicature, No. 9, 838.
21. ↑ Yarmouth. Files, Superior Court of Judicature, No. 9, 838.
22. ↑ Barnstable Prob., Volume 5, Record 266
23. ↑ Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories, 4:pt.2:48
24. ↑ Mayflower Descendant, 8: 127
25. ↑ Entered by David McAvity, Jan 20, 2013

See also:

• www.jones-dna.org Y-DNA pedigree site. Family Group: R1b-M269 #24 FTDNA kit: 88036.
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=hhadaway&id=I2285
• Charles Swift, History of Old Yarmouth, 1884
• William C. Smith, A History of Chatham, Mass. Formerly the Constablewick or village of Monomoit, FB and FP Goss, publishers, Hyannis, MA, 1909
• Reid, Nancy Thacher, Dennis, Cape Cod from Firstcomers to Newcomers, 1639 – 1993, 1996
• Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, It's History and People, 1986
• The Nickerson Family Association, Nickerson Family Genealogy, Part I, 1973
• Nickerson Family Genealogy, Part I by The Nickerson Family Asso., Inc. 1973
• Mrs. John E. Barclay Title: The Jones Family of Yarmouth and Middleboro, Mass. Periodical: The American Genealogist
• TAG 31:123-126 = The Jones Family of Yarmouth and Middleboro, Mass. (Mrs. John E. Barclay).